There are walk-able tourist areas in the US as well that people enjoy, but couldn't imagine living in. The reality in Europe is cars are still the dominate mode of transport for most people. Even if the best walk/bike/transit cities cars have a very large mode share.
> There are walk-able tourist areas in the US as well that people enjoy, but couldn't imagine living in.
Like Disneyland? Of course nobody could live there. But actual walkable neighborhoods tend to be prohibitively expensive because they're extremely desirable.
Door county Wisconsin would be an example of a place where people live. The locals all have cars, but tourists often spend time walking around the town (they drive to the towns)
As a European and as an American… I agree! Sort of - there really are far more walk-able spaces here in the EU in cities.
But if anything, Europe is too car centric as well. The consumer upper middle class and child bearing families still seek out suburbs unfortunately.
I always talk about this but live in a utopian dystopian socialist modernist neighborhood complex from the 1960’s. There is a health clinic downstairs, schools, library, market-shops, park areas all 5 minute elevator ride down. Most residents still have cars unfortunately - the parking area is packed with them.
